Sash paint applicator

ABSTRACT

A PAINT APPLICATOR PROVIDING A RESILIENT PAD OF TRUNCATED WEDGE SHAPE CARRYING ON ONE FACE A PART ABSORBING AND APPLYING COVER SHEET, AND A HANDLE WITH OPPOSITE END PRONGS, WITH THE PAD BEING MOUNTED WITH ITS OTHER FACE ON THE FRONT OF ONE OF THE PRONGS WITH ITS NARROW END EXTENDING TO THE END OF THIS PRONG. AND THE OTHER PRONG BEING SPACED REARWARDLY FROM THE ONE PRONG AND EXTENDING WITH ITS END BEYOND THAT OF THE ONE PRONG TO SERVE AS A GUIDE IN USE OF THE APPLICATOR.

Oct. 12, 1971 A. J. BELLI 3,611,469

SASH PAINT APPLICATOR Filed May 1,1970

INVENTOR d States Patent 3,611,469 SASH PAINT APPLICATOR Anselmo J.Belli, 17 Yates St., West Haven, Conn. 06516 Filed May 1, 1970, Ser. No.33,798 Int. Cl. A46b /00; B44d 3/16 Us. 01. 15-118 6 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to paint applicators in general,and to sash paint applicators in particular.

The invention is concerned with a paint applicator of a type usedespecially but not exclusively, for the bevelled sash trim surrounding apane of glass. The painting of sash trim is a time-consuming task in anyevent, and requires considerable skill and also patience if excessivesmearing of the glass with paint is to be avoided. To simplify thistask, a few special sash paint applicators of this type have becomeknown. However, while these prior paint applicators are satisfactory insome respects, they are more or less unsatisfactory in other respects.Thus, while these prior paint applicators afford some guidance on thesash or window pane intended to keep their paint-applying surface incontact with the trim, such guidance will, in manipulating theapplicator at at fully expected faster pace than an ordinary bristlebrush, not prevent the smearing of paint on the window, or leavenon-painted areas on the trim especially where it joins the Window pane,or both.

-It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a paintapplicator of this type which has all the advantages, but none of theaforementioned and also other unsatisfactory aspects, of prior paintapplicators of this type.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a paintapplicator of this type which, virtually by feel of touch alone andwithout the need of paying difficult visual attention to that part ofsash trim being painted at any instant, will apply paint evenly to thetrim throughout its width but not therebeyond to the window pane,whereby manipulation of the applicator at a fast pace for entirelysatisfactory painting of the trim is also reduced to a simple taskrequiring little skill. This is achieved by providing a pad of truncatedwedge shape with wide and narrow ends and opposite faces forming thewedge angle, and a handle with spaced end prongs on one of which the padis backed and mounted with one face so that its narrow end is next tothe terminating end of the backing prong, with the pad being of anysuitable resilient material and carrying on its other face a paintabsorbing and applying cover sheet, and the other prong extending withits terminal end beyond that of the pad-backing prong and serving withits terminal end as a guide for the applicator on the window 'pane. Withthis arrangement, the pad is over its entire contact area with sashtrim, and right up to the window pane, resilient for evenly drawing allpaint from the absorbent cover sheet and as evenly applying it to thetrim throughout, and in use of the applicator on sash trim the handlerests with its guide prong on the window pane in a more or less PatentedOct. 12, 1971 erect disposition thereon, so that on slight deviation ofthe handle from this erect disposition, especially at a fast pace of theapplicator along the trim, the ensuing lateral creep of thepaint-applying pad on the trim is minimal and will not give rise eitherto unsightly painting'of the window pane or unsightly non-painted spotson the trim along the window pane. Moreover, the featured wedgeformation of the pad and correspondingly more erect operationaldisposition of the guide prong of the handle makes it easy to hold thepad in motion squarely on the trim without danger of deviatingtherefrom, on merely forcing the pad flat against the trim byconvenient-finger pressure on the guide prong opposite the trim.

It is a further object of the present invention toprovide a paintapplicator of this type of which the opposite side edges of the prongsof the handle are over some distance from their terminal edges taperedtoward the latter, and the opposite sides of the pad are over thetapered extent of the prongs similarly tapered. With this arrangement,the sides of the pad are fashioned substantially to fit in the cornersof sash trim especially in the otherwise difficult-to-reach places nextto the window pane.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a paint applicatorof this type of which the terminal end of the guide prong of the handlemay be used as 'a scraper.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a paintapplicator of this type of which either of the aforementioned taperedsides of the guide prong of the handle may be used to good advantage asa putty knife with guidance on the window pane for particularly smoothand even, single-stroke putty application and simultaneous scraping ofexcess putty from the window pane Which otherwise would have to beremoved subsequently.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a paintapplicator of this type of which the wedgeshaped pad carrying the paintabsorbing and applying cover sheet, besides being resilient, is alsopaint absorbing, and is to this end made of synthetic sponge or othercellular absorbent material. With this arrangement, the applying pad mayhold more paint with each dip into a supply, and it will be possible topaint an entire straight length of sash trim in one stroke, especiallysince with diminishing paint in the thinner paint-applying end of thepad, paint may be pumped thereto from the thicker pad part bycompressive and decompressive manipulation of the pad while moving theapplicator along the trim.

Further objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the artfrom the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paint applicator embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the paint applicator;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the paint applica'tor in use onsash trim surrounding a window;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear view of the applicator in use to applyputty to a window sash;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front view of a paint applicator embodying theinvention in a modified manner; and

FIG. '6 is an end view of a paint applicator embodying the invention inanother modified manner.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2thereof, the reference numeral 10 designates a paint applicator having ahandle 12, a resilient pad 14, and a paint absorbing and applying coversheet 16. The handle 12, which may be of any suitable material, providesa forked end 18' with spaced opposite prongs 20 and 22 which in thisinstance are parallel to each other and have straight terminal ends 24and 26.

.The pad 14, which if of any suitable resilient material, such aspolyurethane, for example, is of truncated-wedge shape, having wide andnarrow ends 28 and 30 opposite faces 32 and 34. The pad 14 is with itsface 32 backed and suitably mounted, as by cementing, on the prong 20 ofthe handle :12, with the narrow end 30 of the pad extending along theterminal end 24 of this prong The cover sheet 16, which is suitablyattached to the face 34 of the pad 14, as by cementing, for example, is.of any suitable paint-absorbing material which has also goodpaint-applying properties, such as felt, for instance.

To use the applicator 10, the same is with the cover sheet 16 dippedinto a preferably rather shallow supply of paint, which in the broadersense may be some coating substance other than paint as commonlyunderstood, such as varnish, for example. In thus dipping the coversheet 16 in paint, such paint is kept from the spaced guide prong 22and, hence, from the window pane in subsequently painting sash trim.Once the cover sheet 16 is supplied with paint in this manner, theapplicator is used for painting sash trim 36, for example (FIG. 3). Tothis end, the applicator is with the paint-applying cover sheet 16placed squarely against the trim over its entire width as shown, withthe prong 22 of the handle 12 then resting with its terminal end 26 onthe window pane 38. The applicator is then moved along the trim 36 topaint the same, with the prong 22 being retained in sliding engagementwith the window pane 38 to serve as a posi-.

tive guide for holding the paint-applying cover sheet .16 fully andsquarely against the trim 36 at most any speed of the applicator alongthe trim. The paint is thus evenly applied to the trim 36, especiallysince light pressure on the pad 14 in moving the applicator along thetrim will not only urge the cover sheet 16 into reach of all unevensurface parts of the trim, but will also force all paint from this coversheet and onto the trim 36 including that usually mostdifficult-to-paint part thereof at the window pane 38. Thus, with alittle experience in manipulating the applicator 10, a length of sashtrim may be painted evenly and fully in a single stroke at quiteconsiderable speed of the applicator therealong. Of course, while theapplicator 10 is particularly advantageous for painting sash trim, thesame is obviously also useful for painting other parts of sash. or otherstructures.

It will be noted in FIG. 3 that the wedge shape of the pad 14 places thehandle 12, and more particularly its guide prong 22, into a more erectoperational disposition on the window pane 38 than if the pad were ofuniform thickness throughout. This is highly advantageous in that itlends considerable stability to the manual guidance of the applicator inaccurate paint-applying relation with the trim 36. In this connection,such guide stability of the applicator is particularly high on applyinglight finger pressure to the guide prong 22 in a region directlyopposite to the trim surface being painted, for at the then prevailingangles between the trim surface and window pane 38 and between the guideprong 22 and window pane (FIG. 3) the cover sheet 16 will, under theexerted pressure on the guide prong, become virtually locked to the trimsurface in accurate paint-applying relation therewith at most any, andeven the highest, speed of the applicator along the trim. Further, ifthe bevel of the trim 36 should be different from that shown, the wedgeshape of the pad 14 is further advantageous, inthat in the placement ofthe applicator in proper guide relation with the window pane in whichthe same is in square engagement with the trim surface, its engagementwith the trim surface will then at the most deviate so slightly fromthat shown in FIG. 3 as to preclude unsightly painting onto the windowpane or an unsightly unpainted strip of the trim surface next to thewindow pane.

The opposite, and in this instance parallel, side edges 40, 42 and 44,46 of the prongs 20 and 22 are over end lengths thereof preferablytapered towards their respective terminal ends 24 and 26 as at 48, 50,52 and 54,

and the opposite sides of the pad 14 and its cover sheet 16 are over thetapered lengthwise extent of the backing prong 20 similarly tapered asthe latter as at 56 and 58. The thus tapered ends of the prongs 20, 22and pad 14 with its cover sheet 16 permit guided placement of theapplicator against sash trim at any corner thereof in substantialsurface fit therewith, so that painting of a trim surface may be startedin any corner thereof and continued along the trim surface in a singlemotion of the applicator and without deviation from its correct guidanceon the window pane.

The terminal end 26 of the guide prong 22 of the handle 12 is preferablysquared off to provide a scraper edge 60, thus lending to the applicator10 the attributes of a combination painting and scraping tool. Ifdesired, the terminal end 26 of the guide prong 22 of the handle may beslightly bevelled for a better scraping edge 60, without interferingwith its guide function in painting sash trim.

The tapered sides '52, 54 and terminal end 26 of the guide prong 22 ofthe handle 12 also serve as a putty knife for applying putty p (FIG. 4).Thus, the application of putty will be particularly even owing to theguidance of the prong 22 on the window pane 62, as shown, at least forthe greater and most tedious part of the putty application. Also, withthe prong 22 being thus guided on the window pane, excess putty thatwould ordinarily spread onto the window pane is by the terminal edge 62of the prong wiped from the pane.

FIG. 5 shows an applicator 10a which may in all respects be like thedescribed applicator 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the side edges andsides of the prongs 20a, 22a and covered pad 14a are not slanted butextend straight to their terminal ends, whereby the terminal end 26a ofthe guide prong 22a may serve as a scraper to reach into the verycorners of a window pane for scraping dirt or even occasional painttherefrom.

Reference is now had to FIG. 6 which shows an applicator 10b that may inall respects be like the applicator 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, except that thepad 14b with its cover sheet 16b is replaceable on the handle 12b. Tothis end, the pad 14b is attached, as by cementing, to a backing plate70 having in its rear opposite side channel formations 72 which are slidonto the prong 20b of the handle for removable mounting of the coveredpad 14b thereon.

While the pad 14 of the applicator 10 has been described as being of aresilient material, it is also within the ambit of the invention to makethis pad of a material which, besides being resilient, is also paintabsorbing. Such a material may be sponge or any other suitable absorbentcellular material. In the case of such an absorbent pad, the same may,on dipping into paint, hold extra paint which it will give up to itsalso paint-absorbing and applying cover sheet as needed. Thus, inpainting sash trim, for example, the applicator may well hold sufficientpaint to finish an entire trim length with one stroke of the applicator,with paint from the pad being drawn to its cover sheet where engagingthe trim, when needed, by exerting slight pressure on the pad and thenrelieving the pressure without stopping the motion of the applicatoralong the trim.

What is claimed is:

1. A paint applicator, comprising a pad of truncated wedge shape withwide and narrow ends and opposite faces forming the wedge angle, withsaid pad being of resilient material; a handle with spaced oppositeprongs, of which one prong has a surface facing away from the otherprong, and both prongs have terminal edges, with said pad being with oneof said faces backed and mounted on said surface of said one prong withsaid narrow end thereof at the terminal edge of said one prong, and saidother prong extending with its terminal edge beyond that of said oneprong; and a paint absorbing and applying cover sheet carried by theother face of said pad.

2. A paint applicator as in claim 1, in which said prongs have alignedparallel sides which over a distance from their terminal edges aretapered toward the latter, and said pad has opposite sides aligned withsaid prong sides and similarly tapered as the latter to said narrow endthereof.

3. A paint applicator as in claim 1, in which said terminal edge of saidother prong is formed as a scraper.

4. A paint applicator as in claim 2, in which said tapered sides andterminal edge of said other prong serve as a putty knife.

5. A paint applicator as in claim 1, in which said pad is of resilientand also paint-absorbing cellular material.

6. A paint applicator as in claim 1, which further pro vides a backingmember with a front face on which said pad is mounted with said one facethereof, and having in its rear a guideway formation slidable onto saidone prong for removably mounting said pad on said one prong.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,545,641 3/1951 Allen et al15-210 R 2,975,453 3/1961 Imhof 15 211 R 2,985,902 5/1961 Sopocy 15-210RX FOREIGN PATENTS 1,181,230 2/1970 Great Britain 15 21o R 184,9429/1963 Sweden 151 '18 DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner U.S. c1. X.R.

